A look at a few roster decisions that await the Miami Heat in August

MIAMI — The free-agent frenzy has calmed down and the final summer league game was played a few weeks ago, but the Heat still have some business to handle in August.

Miami’s first decision will come on the first day of the month, as the Heat must decide by Tuesday — Aug. 1 — whether they will guarantee $453,000 each for the 2017-18 salaries of Rodney McGruder and Okaro White. If Miami decides not to guarantee these amounts, they will become free agents.

Head coach Erik Spoelstra of the Miami Heat talks with Okaro White #15 while playing the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on March 6, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. Miami won the game 106-98. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

But it would be considered a total surprise if McGruder and White are allowed to hit free agency this week, as they both are expected to be on the Heat’s roster after Tuesday’s deadline. McGruder and White are both set to make $1.3 million this season, with that full salary scheduled to become completely guaranteed for 2017-18 if they are on the Heat’s roster for the season-opener.

McGruder played an important role for the Heat as a rookie last season, turning into the starting small forward after Justise Winslow suffered his season-ending shoulder injury. The 6-foot-4 McGruder logged 65 starts, which is the fifth-most by a Heat rookie in team history, and quickly earned a reputation for being a gritty and physical player in games and a hard worker behind the scenes.

White was called up to the NBA from the Heat’s developmental affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, in the middle of last season. The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 2.8 points and 2.3 rebounds in 35 games in a bench role as a rookie, and played for the Heat’s summer league team in Orlando and Las Vegas this year.

Aside from guaranteeing a portion of McGruder and White’s contracts, the Heat also have a decision to make regarding Josh Richardson. The 6-foot-6 combo guard becomes eligible for a contract extension on Thursday.

Richardson is eligible for an extension up to four years in length and for as much as $44 million in total value, which would begin in 2018-19 after he makes $1.5 million this upcoming season. The 23-year-old can either accept the extension by the deadline of the start of the regular season — if it is offered by the Heat — or pass on the extension and take a chance as a restricted free agent next summer.

Miami will have Richardson’s full Bird rights after this season, which allow NBA teams to exceed the cap in order to re-sign their own free agents up to the player’s maximum salary.

With the addition of two-way contracts, an NBA team can carry up to 17 players on its roster during the regular season and up to 20 players before and during training camp and the preseason. Since the Heat are already capped out for the upcoming season, they will have to fill out the rest of their roster with the $4.3 million room exception and minimum contracts.